Community Stories

27 Stories from Volunteers, Donors & Supporters

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ICTG has provided invaluable assistance to All Saints-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Santa Barbara. Kate counseled us during a tragedy on campus in 2012, giving us an outline of best practices and how to meet the needs of our parishioners.

Then she stepped up mightily when mudslides devastated Montecito in January 2018, killing 21 and destroying or damaging more than 400 homes. All Saints became isolated by the mudslides, giving our clergy and neighbors the opportunity to take people in for shelter and care. We served as a medical triage site and eventually an evacuation site.

Our clergy, staff, vestry and members benefited from ICTG's programs of guidance, hands-on counsel, etc. Kate met with our clergy to provide direct assistance and with our vestry to explain their role and feelings. She helped us to structure a way to provide pastoral care for our parishioners.

On the Sunday after September 11, 2001, I became "trauma-informed." In our church's open praises and prayer request time, many people shared their fears and connection to this tragedy in the context of worship. I falsely assumed every church would be a place of comfort and processing. I was wrong and from that point was determined to more intentionally provide a space where people could respond to the tragedies and losses they confronted. Along came ICTG and I knew I had found my home. Almost since the beginning, I have had the opportunity to partner with this great organization in caring for youth, children, and families. The resources and training have proved invaluable especially following the fires and mudslides impacting our community. It has given me the tools to encourage and help many other leaders as well. From experience, I encourage everyone to become trauma-informed before trauma hits. ICTG is here for you. Thank you ICTG.

Where ICTG shines is the resources it offers to the community. In my experience, very few congregations are prepared for trauma, whether it be human-caused or disaster-related. While ICTG helps with relief and recovery efforts after the fact, it is committed to building resilience in congregations *before* trauma inevitably hits. Through its work, ICTG is helping communities become places where trauma, both individual and corporate, can become pathways to healing and growth.

I've learned a lot about ictg in the past few months and had the opportunity to attend their first annual fundraiser. I'm impressed with the work they've accomplished and am excited to support them in the years to come. Having an organization in this country that provides resources related to trauma in community has never been more relevant.

I have worked in the field of Behavioral Health and community trauma and disaster response for a long time. It was not until recently that I learned of the work of the Institute for Congregational Trauma and Growth. The work of ICTG in our local community is a gift to not only our faith based community but the community at large. ICTG holds a strong understanding of the impact of trauma and uniquely understands the impact of trauma within churches. Thank you ICTG for what you are doing.

Working as an intern at ICTG, alongside the director, was a rich and growing experience. My interneship was treated like a mentorship and I was quickly welcomed into their organization. I was trained and entrusted to speak with members of my community who respond to trauma and encouraged to take the internship in a direction that suited my interests. I felt empowered by ICTG's training and was able to integrate trauma response into my field of study.

Kate Wiebe gave a tremendously helpful talk to our group of high school students, asking them to explore concrete ways that congregations' and individuals' lives are impacted by trauma. Especially in her encouragement to treat candidly issues of crisis and healing (and those, especially, in their bodily and psychological dimensions), she gave these young people many useful tools for thinking about how they process traumatic events and how they might help others through them. It was wonderfully encouraging to hear about ICTG's difficult but crucial work.

Thanks to Dr. Kate Wiebe for talking with our group of young, future church leaders about the nature of, and importance of congregational care after trauma. Her time with us, speaking into our theme of “Living with Hope in a World of Fear” gave testimony to exactly that.

The work of ICTG is outstanding. Their care for people and communities who experience trauma (all of us) is unparalleled at this time. It can feel scary to "be prepared" for trauma, as if that some how invites trauma and tragedy... The reality is trauma and tragedy have occurred for as long as there have been humans to experience it. How incredible to be alive during a time when we have the resources of ICTG to heal and create joy out of suffering!

ICTG helps congregational leaders become agents of healing, hope and transformation when trauma strikes. The organization works to move the traumatized to being trauma-informed and able to come alongside other victims of trauma. I have been involved with ICTG since its inception, first as a board member and now as an advisor. Rev. Dr. Kate Weibe is thorough, dedicated and passionate about creating communities where healing happens. She is a committed executive director--to be sure--but she does this work because she cares deeply about human flourishing. ICTG serves all kinds of faith communities and partners with other disaster relief agencies. Don't wait until trauma happens to you! You can become a trauma-informed leader today - check out this great organization!

As an educator, I am consistently impressed by how ICTG director Kate Wiebe effectively unpacks the complex processes of the human experience of trauma and restoration to students and general audiences alike. ICTG courageously steps into those very spaces that most of us are afraid to go with astonishing clarity, professionalism and wisdom. No one else is training and caring for community and religious leaders in the ways that ICTG does. ICTG is a hidden gem waiting to be found!

Rev. Dr Kate Wiebe gave three presentations at the Anabaptist Vision and Discipleship Series (AVDS) lectures in Hesston KS on "When the Unthinkable Happens". And she did not disappoint. As the keynote presenter Rev. Dr. Kate Wiebe, spoke on “Collective Trauma Part 1: Preparing and Responding,” and tackled “Why respond to trauma?”

“We respond to trauma because it is hopeful work, walking alongside people going through trauma expedites restoration and, most importantly, because trauma is never the end of the story,” Wiebe said.

Wiebe’s outlines served as springboards for discussion throughout that evening and into the weekend as audience members were encouraged to share about personal experiences with trauma with those around them.

She also encouraged participants to remember that trauma and healing are like beauty – they are in the eye of the beholder.

“What feels like trauma or healing to one person, may not to another,” Wiebe said. “Everyone experiences trauma and healing in different ways and at different paces.”

What I like about ICTG is that they are pro-active in preparing ministers/churches/communities for when disasters happen so as to shorten the time when people are left in shock and thus lessen the long-term effects of trauma. As we know, the effects of trauma can last a life-time and many times gets passed down inter-generationally. The importance of what ICTG is doing cannot be emphasized enough and they do a thorough job in preparing people for probable disasters.

I am personally acquainted with some of the people on their deployment team, and I have high regard for their skills and can vouch for their experience. I am a professional emergency manager, and have ICTG listed among our key resources for assisting with the aftermath of a tragic disruption.

ICTG offers practical tools for ministry. The nuance of ICTG is that it provides insights, ideas, and innovative methods to address unique and broad cases of trauma. For example, I read their blog on "Congregational Ministry after a House Fire," and this provided specific insights that empower practices of care. They also provide resources for congregational ministers as they may face compassion fatigue, natural disasters, depression, etc. ICTG is an incredibly dynamic non-profit that effectively equips their affiliates, volunteers, and members of the general public with practical tools to respond to trauma and facilitate congregational growth. This is an essential non-profit!

We had such a great experience with ICTC. Erin Jantz was able to connect with college students and speak directly to trauma as it relates to sexual assault. Her message was powerful, clear and a conduit to growth and healing.Danny PaschallDean of StudentsBiola University

Superb resources for leaders in congregations dealing with trauma related issues. Practical, easy to use tools, helpful guides, great educational information, and excellent support. My experience with ICTG had been nothing but positive and encouraging, even in the midst of difficult circumstances. Highly recommended.

My husband and I have committed this year to giving to this incredible organization on a monthly basis. If you are looking at starting to give to something regularly, or adding to your giving please consider ICTG. They do very real, needed, life giving service, and, it is pretty awesome that my sister started and leads it. So check it out!

ICTG provides thoughtful, practical tools and a wealth of resources to congregations and leaders. The work it does in the area of trauma is vitally needed and important to support. I am grateful for its leadership, especially Dr. Rev. Katherine Wiebe, and for the ways in which she is equipping congregations to be a healing and transformative presence in the world.